On Scouting clubs acceptance of gender – Female. On a T V interview tonight Gov. Huckabee points out a 50 percent decline in the Boy Scouts Clubs membership before the name change to “BSA Scouts” acceptance of gender female in their general membership.

He noted in the T V interview that the girls-only program still exists. I do not recall if this is true of the boys-only scouting programs.

Traditionally camping trips enjoyed by Scout troops did not seem approiate for girls. The majority of parents today would draw the line on mixed camp outings. So why the push to destroy two 100 year old traditions?

I will only surmise any reasoning for the decline of the young men’s “Jaycees Organizations,” founded by an Atlanta attorney in 1921, John Westmoreland, (a street named “Westmoreland Ave.in his honor exist in Atlanta) Jaycee membership soared all over Georgia and nationally — when in the 1970’s initially wives were accepted into the Jaycees, membership began its decline.

My membership in the early 60s in the Marietta, Georgia Jaycees, was a contributing success for a great city, with people like our club president Johnny Isakson (a short history on Johnny and his sister, both grew tired of milking cows for the family dairy, leaving their chores to others, they opened a real estate office and called it “Northside Realty”). Ga. State Pres Mr. Noah Langdale, (a guest speaker) once recognized Johnny by saying — many in this organization will go on to be great leaders — even, Mr Isakson, who may one day become a U S Senator. I recall several prominent guest speakers during my time with the Jaycees, Governors Vandiver, Sanders, and his Lt.Gov. who wound up practicing law in Camilla, his name escapes me — I remember he had an extremely high roof baritone mouth. Mr. Langdale was by far our favorite guest speaker.

Our club met at the Marietta VFW — who gladly opened its bar for our club on meet night. When wives were accepted into membership, we moved to an alcohol-free building down the street. Things were never the same, membership dropped monthly.

I have no knowledge of why our Moultrie Chapter failed. I am sure of the effect Jaycee organization impart to its community leadership. Leadership in Colquitt County is relegated to individuals devoid of leadership abilities. (Yet we survive, puzzling isn’t it.)

Learning is derived through association in the scouting program — whether boy or girl scouting — another factor; “show me how to do it and I will learn”. Any imposition of organization structure changes harmful to scouting should be avoided.

Tom Rogers

Moultrie, Ga.